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Match Report

BROMLEY 0 TORQUAY UNITED 2

TORQUAY United’s penultimate away game of the season saw us head to Bromley looking to reach the 50-point mark and in doing so complete the ‘Great Escape’.

Player-manager, Kevin Nicholson, kept faith with the same team which deservedly won the previous game against a Bromley side that found themselves in the middle of the table in what is their first season at National League level.

After a cagey opening, a neat turn and strike from Josh Rees was deflected wide for a corner which Luke Young delivered perfectly onto the head of Angus MacDonald who made no mistake to make it 1-0 on 11 minutes.

There was a good challenge from Aman Verma to deny Coombes after Cunnington did well out wide before delivering an inviting cross.

With 26 minutes on the clock, Ben Gerring saw yellow for a foul on Cunnington as the resulting free-kick came to nothing for the home side.

The game became rather stop-start with a series of free-kicks as the half went on.

Having been fed by Luke Young, some positive play from Ifeanyi Allen ended with his low cross cleared by Fuseini.

A neat passage of play by United ended with Butler’s cross cleared for a corner by Emmanuel and as the flag-kick came in, MacDonald’s stooping header was cleared by the home side who looked to break quickly only for Rees to make a timely intervention.

We went into the break good value for our one-goal lead in what had been another solid and hard-working display during the opening period.

A half-time change saw Toby Ajala replace Luke Young who appeared to take a knock during the first half.

Just a couple of minutes into the second half, there was a second yellow card for Fuseini for something that he said to the referee as he prepared to take a free-kick for the home side. It meant that Bromley were reduced to ten men.

There was a booking for Courtney Richards for a foul on Coombes.

The home side created their best chance of the game shortly afterwards when Goldberg was played through only to be denied by a great block from Moore.

With the home side galvanised, a left-footed strike from Goldberg just before the hour-mark rattled the woodwork as Richards managed to clear the loose ball.

Some good link-up play between Blissett and Harrad saw the latter get in a powerful drive that flew just inches over.

After Allen picked out Harrad whose strike was easy for the home ‘keeper, there was a booking for MacDonald for a foul as Bromley looked to launch a raid of their own.

A second substitute for United saw Sam Chaney replace Harrad.

As a header from Cunnington got away from Moore, skipper MacDonald was well positioned to clear Emmanuel’s effort from in front of goal.

With 85 minutes on the clock, a free-kick from Courtney Richards was curled over the defensive wall and beyond the despairing dive of the ‘keeper to double our advantage.

It was a great strike from the midfield man and in the wake of the goal, Allen was replaced by Andre Wright for our third and final change of the afternoon.

United remained resolute to see the game out and secure another excellent 2-0 victory to take us onto the 50-point mark and make it mission accomplished.

It was an afternoon where players, staff and, of course, supporters can once more be so very proud of their efforts.